Hi guys! I want to share a little about mine and Jack's relationship. It's quite funny how we ended up meeting. He was a Junior in high school and I was a Sophomore. He played basketball at the neighboring school and I was a cheerleader. We played his school one night and I'm pretty sure they beat the brakes off us hah but Jack says he saw me on the sidelines and was smitten ever since. He didn't know my name so he searched for me on Facebook (2008 life) and finally found me. Back then I felt like I added everyone so I must have accepted his friend request but never thought to look at his profile.

Fast forward 8 years later (2016), he contacted me and commented on one of my pictures. I was so confused and asked "Um Hi do I know you?" He kind of avoided how he was friends with me on FB. He says he didn't want to think he was a "creeper" When he finally told me he had had a crush on me since he was 16 I almost lost it. I was like WHAT? (Let me tell you guys I was not cute in high school.) So I was shocked and didn't believe him until I saw that we truly had been facebook friends since 2008.

So once we started talking I eventually gave him my phone number and we facetimed each other ALL THE TIME. At this point, he was playing professional basketball overseas in Germany. Our time zones were crazy but we were soaking up every free second we could.

2017-2018 Jack signed with the Sacramento Kings and we could not be more excited to be in the same freaking country this year. I was so proud of him and I was fortunate enough to be able to go to a bunch of his games. Literally the coolest experience!

At the time I lived with my parents and he stayed with his in the off season. We started looking for homes while he was still playing in Cali. I was a busy bee let me tell you. I swear I knew about homes on the market before our real estate agent did. I probably looked at at least 40 homes. When I stepped foot into our current home I knew it was perfect!

2018-2019: Jack played overseas again in Italy this time. Once again our timezones were way off. I got an awesome job at the high school in the city we lived in. I was so excited to be teaching the life skills program for special needs. It was such an awesome year. But it was tough living in a house all alone and only talking to your significant other once a day. We obviously made it work and we got engaged on the the island of Sardinia in Italy! It was absolutely gorgeous he planned it so well! I was in complete shock!

2019-2020: Jack signed with a team in Japan hence why I'm here now. We decided that it would be best to move with him this time since the time difference is 14 hours! We could do 7 or 8 hours but 14 is almost impossible. So sadly, I quit my job and I just got to the island of Okinawa a few days ago. It is BEAUTIFUL! His team has us staying in an apartment on the beach...like I can see the OCEAN from my balcony! I'm so excited to be here, but I'm so nervous since I've never actually lived in another country let alone more than 3 hours from my family and friends! But I know it will be an adventure and something I will never forget!

Plus I have a lot of free time to continue planning the wedding of our dreams! July 25th 2020 cannot come soon enough!

So moral of the story long distance does stink but if you truly love someone you can def make it work from wherever you are! Jack is truly the best human I have ever met and he makes me feel complete! I honestly don't know what I would do if I didn't accept his friend request all those years. So thanks Jack for loving me even when I was a brace face, skinny, no styled 15 year old! I can't wait for the rest of our lives together!

Tips and advice: If you're in the same boat and are looking for some advice, I'd say the #1 tip is that COMMUNICATION IS KEY! Definitely share the good things and celebrations but remember to communicate any concerns or negatives. I've learned someone cannot read your mind ( especially over the phone).

And tip #2 be patient. It's so much easier said then done but be patient with your significant other. There will be times where you get frustrated but remember you're in this together! He or she is feeling the same wave of emotions you are.

And last but not least tip #3, show them you love them! Even little things like shooting them a text with some hearts, randomly saying I love you, and making time for them in your busy schedule! A little goes a long way and if you truly love each other everything will be A OKAY! You got this!

Here are some pics of Jack and I together over the last 3 1/2 years!

One of our first dates to the cubs game :) 2016

One of the many facetimes we had during our very first year of dating while he was in Germany.. (before we even met in person!)

Cheering him on in Sacramento!

When I cheered for the Bulls and he played against us at The United Center (I was secretly cheering for him the whole time)!

Jack found these shirts and thought it was so clever. "2017 First Christmas with my hot new girlfriend" even though we already had a Christmas together haha

The house I searched high and low for!! This was closing day and the day we got the keys!!

An amazing trip to Hawaii!!

When Jack proposed to me on the beach in Italy!!!